BY BROCK SHERIDAN

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training turned up the excitement meter near the end of the first day of the four-day auction when Hip 289 lit up the money board with a $1.95 million price tag. Purchased by trainer Mark Casse and Ben McElroy of AMO Racing, the colt from the first crop by Epicenter was the highest priced juvenile sold during the OBS Spring Sale since Collmus, a colt by Gun Runner, sold for $2.2 million in 2023.

The champion 3-year-old colt of 2022, Epicenter, a son of Not This Time, won the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers by more than five lengths in addition to taking that year’s Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), Jim Dandy (G2) and Risen Star presented by Lamarque Ford (G2).

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables as agent, the colt is out of Spanx Legacy, by Animal Kingdom, a full sister to multiple Grade 3-placed Delta’s Kingdom and a half-sister to stakes-placed, stakes-producer Spanker. The colt was a $275,000 yearling purchase by Havertz Stables at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale in Saratoga, New York in August.

“I have great respect for Ciaran Dunne and he has been very fond of this horse since January when he was first on his farm,” Casse said. “He’s just beautiful.”

Ciaran Dunne – ©Judit Seipert

“I didn’t know what to expect for ones like that. I’m happy for OBS. It’s a family connection. My dad [Norman Casse] started the place. All that we’ve been able to accomplish here, it’s really exciting. I’m very proud for the sales company to get a horse of that caliber and fetch a price like that.”

Wavertree led all consignors on the first day with gross sales of $2.455 million from three 2-year-olds. The high-priced Epicenter colt also propelled Casse & McElroy / AMO to the top of the leading buyers list with the lone selection.

The OBS Spring Sale runs through Friday with 1,220 2-year-olds cataloged.

The average price for the 159 2-year-olds sold Tuesday soared to $154,579 compared to last year when 165 head averaged $123,976 on the first day. That is an increase of 24.68%. Gross sales also increased from $20,456,000 on the first day last year to $24,578,000 Tuesday, a 20.15% jump. The median price increased from $60,000 a year ago to $80,000 Tuesday. A total of 47 horses failed to meet their reserve. The RNA rate before post-sales on Tuesday was 22.8% compared to 17.1% after post sales in 2025.

A Thoroughbred filly by Omaha Beach, marked as hip 74, stands in the middle of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co wood-paneled auction. The filly faces the crowd with a raised head, her ears pricked forward. Above everyone, a screen reads, “Hip 74, 24 F. Omaha Beach - Ready for Charm, $900,000.” (Photo: ©Judit Seipert)

Hip 74, a filly by Omaha Beach – ©Judit Siepert

Spendthrift owner Eric Gustavson and general manager Ned Toffey went to $900,000 to purchase Hip 74, a daughter of Omaha Beach consigned by Tom McCrocklin as agent. The dark bay or brown filly is out of Ready for Charm, by More Than Ready, a half-sister to stakes-winners Praetereo, Simply Spiteful, Grade 1-placed Defense Wins, Grade 2-placed Dawn’s Charm, graded stakes-producer Honestly Deb and stakes-producer More Mojo. Ready for Charm is also a half-sister to Honestly Deb, dam of recent Ashland (G1)-winner and leading Kentucky Oaks (G1)-contender Percy’s Bar.

“We’ve had our run ins with Percy’s Bar,” Toffey laughed. “But that is a wonderful pedigree. She’ll be a nice addition to the broodmare band no matter what she does.”

McCrocklin was the third leading consignor Tuesday, marketing six head for $1.725 million and the lone purchase made Spendthift Farm the third leading buyer.

“She’s just a really nice filly. We’ve had a lot of luck with Tom [McCrocklin] and she did things the right way,” Toffey said. “Really nothing not to like about her.

“I can’t say she looks like [Spendthrift’s Grade 1-winner] Kopion but I did keep thinking about Kopion when we were looking at her. I think she has more of that More Than Ready hind leg on her but she’s a big, impressive filly. She’s got a good mind on her and just a big, strong classy filly.”

Spendthrift Farm in partnership with Josh Isner’s Delta Squad Racing got the sale off to a good start with an $850,000 bid for Hip 11, a son of Curlin out of the Violence mare Peace Corps. Top Line Sales as agent consigned by bay colt. Peace Corps is a half-sister to Grade 1-winner and multiple graded-stakes producer Her Smile, stakes-winner Moon River, graded stakes-producer Doolittle.

“Spendthrift liked him individually and then we liked him, so we decided to partner up,” said Liz Crow of BSW/Crow Bloodstock, who signed the ticket on behalf of the pairing. “[Isner] is kind of a newer owner but he’s excited about the game.

“He wants two-turn dirt colts, and this horse obviously had that profile and pedigree. Spendthrift has the [colt’s] half-brother, Tapit’s Legacy, and they like him quite a bit. We just thought he had the profile of that two-turn dirt colt that everyone is looking for.”

That selection alone accounted for Spendthrift Farm and Delta Squad Racing ranking as the fourth leading buyer on the day while it helped make Jimbo and Torie Gladwell’s Top Line Sales the fourth leading consignors. Top Line Sales sold six head Tuesday for $1.54 million.

Three Amigos purchased Hip 133, a son of Honor A.P., for $725,000. Consigned by Bryan Ford Training Stables as agent, the dark bay or brown colt is out of the Nyquist mare Seeking Mo Jewel, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Deterministic.

Hip 261 dropped the gavel at $650,000 on a final bid from Deuce Greathouse as agent for 30 A Thoroughbreds. Deuce Greathouse as agent for 30 A Thoroughbreds purchased one other 2-year-old, a colt by Life is Good, for $325,000 to rank as the second leading buyer on the day.

The gray or roan colt by Uncle Mo is out of the stakes-placed Tapit mare Sweet As Pie and is from the family of Belmont Stakes (G1)-winning filly Rags to Riches and Grade 1-winner Jazil. The colt was consigned by Randy Miles as agent, who was the second leading consignor Tuesday, selling eight Thoroughbreds for $1,825 million.

A Florida-bred colt by Nashville stands calmly in the middle of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co wood-paneled auction. His ears are pricked forward as he stands quietly next to the person who led him into the auction ring. Above them, a screen reads, “Hip 16, 24 C. Nashville - Peisinoe, $205,000.” (Photo: ©Judit Seipert)

Hip 16, a Florida-bred colt by Nashville – ©Judit Siepert

The top-selling Florida-bred was Hip 16, a colt by Nashville out of the stakes-winning and graded stakes-producer Peisinoe, by Yes It’s True. Consigned by Envision Equine as agent and purchased by Allesandro Marconi for $205,000, the colt is a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Proverb and stakes-placed Florida-bred Lady Cha Cha. The colt was bred in Florida by English Range Farm.

The highest priced Florida-bred eligible for the new Florida Sire Racing Incentives program is Hip 211, that went for $200,000 to D. Farrington. The bay colt is by leading Florida sire Khozan, who stands at Ocala Stud, out of Congrats mare Starship Crystal and is a half-brother to Florida-bred stakes-winner Khozalite and Florida-bred stakes-placed runner Gangly. Starship Crystal is a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Lil Personalitee and stakes-producer Miss Possibility. The colt was bred by Mustang Farms Inc.

The new $1 million Florida Sire Racing Incentive program provides $25,000 to each, eligible 2-year-old winner of a maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming or stakes at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026. Paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, each $25,000 will be split $20,000 to the winning owner and $5,000 to the breeder.

The new program replaces the Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds, a change necessitated due to the unfortunate failure by Gulfstream Park and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association to enter into a 2026 agreement with the FTBOA, leaving no venue to host the Florida Sire Stakes races.